Garrard 301 restoration project

[jaym481]

I wish I had the heavier counterweight for mine. I can't balance an SPU with my 3012.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I purchased a custom made weight from Steve at Magna audio, he did a superb job.

[take5]

Rexton, yes it is a 3012 series 2.

The third of your pictures in post 133 interest me.

I also have a 3012 and a heavyish cartridge. I ended up using another small counterweight in addition to the original one to balance it out. It meant I could have them further forward on the rear stub.

Yours looks to be very toward the back of the stub, (possibly even overhanging at the rear?)

My thinking was that it would be best not to put too much pressure on the rubber coupling joining the rear stub to the main arm. So, the forward of my two counterweights actually covers the "join".

I wonder if there are any pros /cons to each approach.

I can see that a SPU will be an area I will need to explore at some time. I hear good things, which you reinforce.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Take5

tHanks for the heads up I will take some photos today and post to see if I've got the thing setup.

andy

[take5]

Andy, Im far from an expert.

It was just something I noticed in your picture, and wondered if anyone with more knowledge could comment on "best" practice.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Brian,

I had a look at the pictures in post 133 and this was indeed the old SME counter weight. You will note the very expensive blu-tac upgrade I used to balance the SPU at tracking force of 4g. I had a word with Steve at Magna Audio and he produced me this.

DSCN1640.jpgDSCN1639.jpg

I can now balance cart+headshell loads upto 60g. I have also ordered a pair of these for <£13. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Platte...item43bb1a90a5 in a bid to try and dampen the platter. The next work will be sending the bearing to Dr. Bastin and then fitting my screen power lead into my PS AUDIO P10.

[jaym481]

I thought about getting Steve to turn a new cw for me, but the SPU now sits on an FR64S, so I'm good.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Since having my daughter I have been looking at cost effective ways of getting more out of my 301. In my last post I mentioned that I ordered a pair of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Platte...052406&afsrc=1

So, the obligatory comment that I have no link to this business in any way shape or form. I installed the platter rings on the advice of Dr. M. Bastin and after fives minutes noticed that they had indeed added a small but very pleasent improvement in the bass. I had a good listen to Cal Tjader playing on crows nest. The double bass had a little extra definition. I had a quick listen to Marillion (Forgotton Sons), and instruments seemed to have a little extra space bewteen them. All in all I must admit to only having a mini listening session but I'm more than happy with the small outlay and I think I have found a great little VFM / SPPV tweak for 301 or maybe even 401 owners. The best thing about this tweak is that you can get your money back if your not happy.

The bearing will be going to Martin Bastin in Januray for a rebuild. I can't bear to part with several hundred quid for some of the after market products out there mainly due to very little info/reviews on these products. I'll be charged less than £50 for his work an have been promised a wider sound stage and even greater dynamics to the bass. We shall have to wait.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've been looking into buying a external power supply for my Garrard 301 and I came up with the following three options.

CLASSIC HIFI
The unit allows the user to lower the line input voltage going to the turntable down a level where no vibration can be heard from the motor. Surprisinglythe Garrard motors RPM can still be maintained on a lower voltage . Best results are obtained with the Eddy brake magnet out of the way of the disc or even removed as with this PSU its not required anymore as all speed selections and alterations are done by the PSU controls

So by lowering the line voltage right down and making fine adjustments with the HZ control it is possible to tweak the motor to just perfect performance and the net result is conconstanteed stability and virtually non existent mechanical noise .

£650


MARTIN BASTIN
Make a PSU which regenerates the incoming current so its a pure sine wave
£400

LORICRAFT

For nearly 10 years, Loricraft Audio have produced mains voltage power supply units. Put simply these units produce pure mains voltage AC waveforms at very precise frequencies normally 50 Hz or 60 Hz with very stable voltage and low distortion regardless of the quality of the domestic mains supply. Originally these supplies were intended for use with Garrard 301 and 401 turntables, and the new Garrard501. It is now accepted that they improve the performance of other equipment, and increasingly we supply them for use with the source components such as CD players, tapedecks, radio tuners and preamplifiers.
£1,000 - £2,400


The text has been lifted from individual websites. I came to a simple conclusion. Why bother when I have a PS Audio P10 which basically does all of the above without me having to do anything more than run a 3m lead from the 301 into the back of the P10. I can alter voltage levels going into the 301. The P10 regenerates a 50Hz sine wave with less than 0.01% THD from the input of the national grid. So I shall be experimenting with the 301 and the P10 to see how things turn out. Hopefully saving a few hundred quid in the process.

[The Black Adder]

Martin Bastin - bosh, done.